Using feedback to improve your text

Using feedback to improve your text

Getting feedback from others can help you improve your text – and it can be motivating! Ask your study group to do a feedback session, or form your own writer’s group with fellow students.

Feedback is useful because it

brings to your attention what is good about your text, and what needs improvement

makes you aware of how actual readers perceive your text

helps you build on your ideas and thoughts by cooperating with other writers

helps you develop literacy and awareness of your own writing tendencies

In other words, giving and receiving feedback makes you a better writer.

Different types of feedback

When you give feedback, you should point out both what you think is good about the text, and what you think should be improved. There are guidelines for giving feedback that can help you when giving or receiving feedback.

Positive feedback

points out what the writer is doing well, and should continue to do

gives praise and points out what works well

shows which parts of the text the writer should keep

Constructive feedback

points out aspects of the text that do not work well

makes the writer aware of things that are unclear to the reader

shows how the text could be improved

Feedback should make the writer see their text from a fresh perspective, and help them identify what they are doing well and what they should change.

Also remember to give feedback according to where in the writing process the writer is, so that your feedback is useful for the writer.